Pacific Leadership Institute is an umbrella organization for a menu of programs centered on learn-by-doing opportunities using the value of challenge, the power of play, and the great outdoors as teaching tools for building life skills such as self-esteem, trust, leadership, and the ability to work as a team. PLI realizes that some topics like these can only be taught through hands-on experiential learning methods and works with groups to tailor program that align with their mission.

The core of the PLI is centered on a youth/community empowerment and leadership development model dedicated to training, preparing, and researching the impacts of experiential education on young people.  PLI’s focus reaches out to the broader community regarding building leadership skills, embracing recreation education, civic engagement, and fostering healthy lifestyles. 

PLI was established in 1980 with the first program, the Fort Miley Adventure Ropes Course. PLI currently serves over 12,000 participants annually in its programs to a wide-range of the community including youth development programs, schools, after-school and university programs, community-based organizations, non-profits, private and corporate groups.

The PLI MIssion

The mission of PLI is: “To build a more positive, effective and resilient community through the development of our youth.” Our goals include providing leadership development, outdoor recreation and experiential education programs to public, nonprofit and private agencies meeting youth, recreation and human service needs.

PLI is an official institute of San Francisco State University administered through the University Corporation a 501c3 organization.

Partnerships

In addition to our leadership team, we must acknowledge the partnerships we have with other organizations to provide the services we offer. Our partners include:

• San Francisco State University; Recreation, Parks and Tourism Dept.
• Golden Gate National Recreation Area; National Park Service
• California State Parks; Office of Community Involvement
• California State Parks Foundation
• San Francisco Unified School District; School Health Programs Dept
• Get Out and Learn experiential classroom out of Downtown High School
• TEAM Program out of Tamaulipas High School
• Camp Arroyo; The Taylor Family Foundation & YMCA of the East BAy